Refrigerator clip

ABSTRACT

This invention relates to a holding device or fastener adapted to positively engage and secure refrigerator inner components during shipping and usage of the refrigerator. The clip or fastener of this invention comprises a U-shaped device which is adapted to cooperate with wall plugs or brackets on the inner walls of a refrigerator to secure the refrigerator inner components with respect to the refrigerator body. A number of different size and shape clips are taught by this invention to attach a variety of refrigerator inner components to the different types of wall plugs or brackets which are utilized to position the refrigerator components.

United States Patent Arnold [54] REFRIGERATOR CLIP [72] Inventor: Emmons S. Arnold, Columbus, Ohio [73] Assignee: Owens-Illinois, Inc.

[22] Filed: Nov. 9, 1970 [21] Appl.No.: 87,889

[ 1 May 30, 1972 FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS Primary Examiner-Bemard A. Gelak Attorney-Alan J. Steger and E. J. Holler ABSTRACT This invention relates to a holding device or fastener adapted to positively engage and secure refrigerator inner components during shipping and usage of the refrigerator. The clip or fastener of this invention comprises a U-shaped device which is adapted to cooperate with wall plugs or brackets on the inner walls of a refrigerator to secure the refrigerator inner components with respect to the refrigerator body. A number of different size and shape clips are taught by this invention to attach a variety of refrigerator inner components to the different types of wall plugs or brackets which are utilized to position the refrigerator components.

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A-rro aOEQS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION This invention relates to a holding device or fastener which is adapted to positively secure refrigerator inner components, such as shelves and preserving sections, to their respective wall plugs or brackets within the refrigerator.

It is customary practice to provide suitable holding means for refrigerator inner components, particularly during shipping of the refrigerator. Without such holding devices, these inner components such as shelves and preserving sections would be free to undergo unrestrained movement, thereby risking damage both to the components and to the inner surface of the refrigerator.

To solve this problem, refrigerators have customarily been shipped with the inner components secured in place by means of a plurality of layers of corrugated paperboard and pressure sensitive tape. Refrigerator inner components normally are positioned within the refrigerator on plugs or brackets which are attached to the inner wall surface of the refrigerator. Thus, the layers of corrugated paperboard and the pressure sensitive tape are utilized to space and maintain the positions of the inner components with respect to the refrigerator inner wall. The preparation of a refrigerator for shipping utilizing a number of layers of corrugated paperboard and considerable pressure sensitive tape is not only very expensive, but also quite time-consuming. Therefore, the standard method of preparing a refrigerator for shipping so that the inner components are maintained securely in place without suffering damage has proven to be an expensive proposition for refrigerator manufacturers. Hence, there has been a long-felt need for a relatively simple and economical solution to the problem of securing the inner components of a refrigerator during shipping.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION It is, therefore, an object of this invention to provide a simple and economical holding means for securing refrigerator inner components to the refrigerator body wall during shipping which eliminates the unnecessary expense and other problems associated with the corrugated paperboard and pres- IN THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a fastener in accordance with this invention which is holding a refrigerator inner component in engagement with a wall plug on the interior of a refrigerator.

FIG. 2 is a schematic perspective view of the fastener utilized in FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is an end view of the fastener of FIG. 2.

FIG. 4 is a side view of the fastener of FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of an alternate configuration of a fastener incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 6 is a schematic perspective view of another alternate configuration of a fastener incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 7 is a schematic perspective view of another alternate configuration of a fastener incorporating the features of this invention.

FIG. 8 is a schematic perspective view of another alternate configuration of a fastener incorporating the features of this invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A holding device or fastener incorporating the unique features of this invention is shown in FIGS. 1-4 and is indicated generally by the numeral 10. The fastener 10, as can be seen in the more detailed showings of FIGS. 2-4, is of a U-shaped configuration. The fastener 10 includes generally a pair of leg portions 12 and 14, each of which terminates in an enlarged grasping portion 16 and 18, respectively, and a central connecting head 20. As can be seen in FIG. 4, leg members 12 and 14 have recessed or cutout portions 22 and 24 removed therefrom to provide both a means for easily grasping the fastener 10 and also to reduce the thickness of the legs to increase their elasticity. As can be seen in FIG. 3, the cross section of the legs have been cut away on both sides as shown at 26 and 28 to thereby also reduce the cross section thickness of the legs 12 and 14 to further increase the elasticity of these leg portions. In addition, the reduction in cross section of legs 12 and 14 at 26 and 28 provides clearance space for the wall studs on the refrigerator inner wall. It should be noted further that the enlarged grasping portions 16 and 18 on the legs 12 and 14, respectively, are rounded for smooth contact with the components to be held and have inwardly extending flange portions 30 and 32, respectively, for securely holding the components to be fastened.

Referring now to FIG. 1, the unique fastener 10 of this invention is shown in its preferred embodiment, namely, securing a refrigerator inner component 34 in engagement with a wall plug or stud 36 on a refrigerator inner wall 38. The inner component 34 in this particular embodiment is illustrated as being a typical grate or wire-rung type shelf which is positioned over a standard wall plug or spacer 36. The shelf 34 is comprised of spaced wire rungs 39 which are held in spaced relation by end frame member 40. The wall plug 36 may be of any suitable type adapted to cooperate with shelf 34 to position and hold it relative to refrigerator inner wall 38.

As can be seen in FIG. 1, the fastener 10 is adapted to be inserted over the end frame member 40 of the shelf 34 and then slid laterally over the wall plug 36 to thereby secure the shelf 34 in engagement with the plug 36. The recessed or cutout portions 22 and 24 provide easy grasping means which facilitate the insertion of the fastener 10 over the end member 40 of the shelf 34 so that the inwardly extending flanges 30 and 32 on the enlarged grasping portion 16 and 18 snap into engagement with the interior edge of the end member 40 of the shelf 34. The particular configuration of the internal U- shaped surface of the two leg members 12 and 14 and the connecting head portion 20 is selected to correspond with the particular configuration of the shelf 34 and wall plug 36.

Thus, it can be seen that the unique fastener 10 incorporating the features of this invention is well suited to be utilized to secure a refrigerator inner component, such as shelf 34, in engagement with a wall plug 36 on a refrigerator inner wall 38.

The fasteners 42, 44, 46, and 48 as shown in FIGS. 5, 6, 7, and 8, respectively, are alternate embodiments of the fastener 10 which incorporate the concept of this invention. These alternate fastener configurations have been designed to facilitate the securement of particular refrigerator inner components, such as shelves shaped differently than that disclosed in FIG. 1, and other removable preserving sections within a refrigerator. As can be seen by reference to FIGS. 5-8, these alternate fastener configurations incorporate a wide variety of attaching flange configurations and feature varying thicknesses and cross sections to accommodate the various components to be held. In addition, these alternate fasteners are designed to cooperate with the various wall plugs and plastic configurations utilized to position these other afore- -mentioned refrigerator components. While the configurations and details of these alternate fasteners shown in FIGS. 5-8 are slightly different from the fastener 10 described in connection with FIGS. 1-4, it should be clear that they incorporate and operate according to the same principle as the fastener 10 so as to be virtually equivalent to the fastener 10. Therefore,

these alternate fastener embodiments are provided to be illustrative proof of the rather broad application of the inventive concept as embodied in the fastener of this invention.

Therefore, it should be apparent from the preceding description that the subject invention provides a unique concept for the solution of the problem of securing refrigerator inner components to the refrigerator inner wall during shipping. The concept of this invention is embodied in a unique U-shaped clip formed from plastic or other suitable lightweight material. The unique plastic fastener of this invention completely eliminates the use and inventory of corrugated paperboard sheets and pressure sensitive tapes which .have been utilized heretofore to secure refrigerator inner components during shipping. The unique plastic fastener of this invention is light in weight, much easier to apply and remove, and requires considerably less inventory space than the customary corrugated paperboard and pressure sensitive tape. In addition, it has been found that because it is so simple to apply, it has increased the speed of the preparation for packing thereby eliminating personnel which can be utilized in other areas. In practice, it has been found that the use of the unique plastic fastener of this invention in place of the standard corrugated paperboard and pressure sensitive tape reduces by as much as 250 percent the cost of preparing a refrigerator for shipment. It should be noted further that the fastener of this invention is also well suited to be utilized as an additional holding device for the shelves during normal operation and usage of the refrigerator.

Hence, the subject invention as embodied in the plastic fastener described herein provides a simple and economic means for securing refrigerator inner components during shipping of the refrigerator thereby eliminating the disadvantages associated with previous securing methods.

I claim:

1. A fastener formed from a plastic material adapted to positively attach a movable object to a fixed object comprising a generally U-shaped member having a pair of generally parallel leg portions depending from and connected by a central head portion, said head portion having a greater transverse cross section than said leg portions, each of said leg portions temiinating at its outer extremity in an enlarged end portion having an inwardly directed retaining flange adapted to engage and hold together said movable and fixed objects when they are placed in engagement, each of said leg portions having arcuate portions removed therefrom along outer edges thereof to provide means for easily grasping said fastener and to increase the elasticity of said leg portions, and each of said leg portions further having a reduced transverse cross section with respect to said head portion and said enlarged end portion in the region of said arcuate portions to further increase the elasticity of said leg portions, the lateral faces of said head portion and the enlarged end portions of said leg portions being substantially flat so as to facilitate engagement with a flat surface.

2. A fastener formed from a plastic material adapted to positively attach a removable refrigerator inner component to a wall stud extending from a refrigerator inner wall, said fastener comprising a generally U-shaped member having a pair of generally parallel leg portions depending from and connected by a central head portion, said head portion having a greater transverse cross section than said leg portions, each of said leg portions terminating at its outer extremity in an enlarged end portion having an inwardly directed retaining flange adapted to engage and hold said refrigerator inner component on said wall stud extending from said refrigerator inner wall, each of said leg portions having arcuate portions removed therefrom along outer edges thereof to provide means for easily grasping said fastener and to increase the elasticity of said leg portions, and each of said leg portions further having a reduced transverse cross section with respect to said head portion and said enlarged end portion in the region of said arcuate portions to further increase the elasticity of said leg portions and to provide clearance space for said wall stud extending from said refrigerator inner wall, the

lateral faces of said head portion and the enlarged end portions of said leg portions being substantially flat so as to facilitate engagement with said refrigerator inner wall. 

1. A fastener formed from a plastic material adapted to positively attach a movable object to a fixed object comprising a generally U-shaped member having a pair of generally parallel leg portions depending from and connected by a central head portion, said head portion having a greater transverse cross section than said leg portions, each of said leg portions terminating at its outer extremity in an enlarged end portion having an inwardly directed retaining flange adapted to engage and hold together said movable and fixed objects when they are placed in engagement, each of said leg portions having arcuate portions removed therefrom along outer edges thereof to provide means for easily grasping said fastener and to increase the eLasticity of said leg portions, and each of said leg portions further having a reduced transverse cross section with respect to said head portion and said enlarged end portion in the region of said arcuate portions to further increase the elasticity of said leg portions, the lateral faces of said head portion and the enlarged end portions of said leg portions being substantially flat so as to facilitate engagement with a flat surface.
 2. A fastener formed from a plastic material adapted to positively attach a removable refrigerator inner component to a wall stud extending from a refrigerator inner wall, said fastener comprising a generally U-shaped member having a pair of generally parallel leg portions depending from and connected by a central head portion, said head portion having a greater transverse cross section than said leg portions, each of said leg portions terminating at its outer extremity in an enlarged end portion having an inwardly directed retaining flange adapted to engage and hold said refrigerator inner component on said wall stud extending from said refrigerator inner wall, each of said leg portions having arcuate portions removed therefrom along outer edges thereof to provide means for easily grasping said fastener and to increase the elasticity of said leg portions, and each of said leg portions further having a reduced transverse cross section with respect to said head portion and said enlarged end portion in the region of said arcuate portions to further increase the elasticity of said leg portions and to provide clearance space for said wall stud extending from said refrigerator inner wall, the lateral faces of said head portion and the enlarged end portions of said leg portions being substantially flat so as to facilitate engagement with said refrigerator inner wall. 